While most students are struggling to make it to the end of the semester, the women’s track team has a little more on its plate.
“The next two-and-a-half weeks are the most challenging part of our competitive year,” said coach David Beauchem.
For the ladies on the squad, it’s different from the cross-country season in the fall.
“[The] cross country [season] ends well before fall semester exams,” said Beauchem. “For track and field, we have the MVC Championship immediately following [final] exams. It is definitely a hectic time for our team to hit their big races.”
The impending stress from the end of the semester hasn’t prevented the Braves from continuing to get good results.
Three Braves finished in the top-10 in the 800-meter run at the Stan Lyons Invitational at Butler University.
Junior Mary Goldkamp, senior Katie Nowak and sophomore Michelle Hartmann placed fourth, sixth and eighth respectively in the event.
Junior Leann Murphy also competed in the 800 and finished in 17th place, just four seconds behind Hartmann.
The only other top-five finish for the Braves came in the 4X400-meter relay, which consisted of Goldkamp, Nowak, Hartmann and Murphy. They took third just a second behind Xavier’s relay team.
“I think we are really doing well,” Beauchem said. “We are healthy and the training has continued to improve week-by-week.”
After the Stan Lyons Invitational, the Braves have only two more meets before the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.
“I think we will have a very successful MVC meet,” Beauchem said. “I think we will continue to see progress throughout our entire team.”
The Braves will head to Terre Haute, Ind. this weekend for the Pacesetter Invitational as they wrap up their season.
